TJ Dillashaw: If Renan Barao Is The Biggest Draw, Then Bring It

News broke last night (July 2, 2014) that the UFC was aggressively pursuing a bantamweight title rematch between newly minted champion TJ Dillashaw and former titleholder Renan Barao for UFC 177 on August 30 in Sacramento, California.

While it may not have been the most popular choice for a 135-pound title scrap given the fact that Dillashaw thoroughly dominated Barao en route to a shocking fifth round finish in the main event of May 24’s UFC 173, Dana White had been on record saying that he wanted to see the talented fighters run it back.

So that’s what will go down. While tons of fans might not like it, instead preferring to let No. 3-ranked Raphael Assuncao get the shot after he beat ‘The Viper’ last year, Dillashaw himself told FOX Sports that he is just fine with the match-up:

“I don’t want to pick and choose. I don’t want to be one of those diva champions. If he’s the biggest draw, then let’s bring it. Obviously I have the game plan to beat him and I have the skills to beat him.”

Dillashaw has the mentality of a true champion, and truth be told, it’s a refreshing point of view when fighters are sitting on the sidelines to pick and choose their upcoming opponents.

However, he clarified that he does want to avenge his loss to Assuncao, stating his belief that he won their first fight and a rematch will happen sometime in the near future

“I won that fight and I would love to get it back obviously. I do want to fight Assuncao. If not next, he’ll come. I want to fight whoever they throw at me. I want to be the guy they can count on.”

But Dillashaw’s ‘company man’ attitude may get him into trouble, as it’s going to be tough for Barao to put on a worse performance than he did at UFC 173. He’ll also be more than motivated to prove their last fight was a fluke, and that the fight-changing right hand he ate in the first round left him kind of fighting on autopilot last May.

With Team Nova Uniao’s reputation resting on that fight after Jose Aldo was forced out of his UFC 176 rematch with Chad Mendes due to injury, it’d be a surprise to see Barao get manhandled again, but Dillashaw might just be that good.

Either way, even if ‘The Viper’ does beat Barao for a second time, he may have to say yes to a fight with his good friend and teammate Urijah Faber in the near future. Both Dillashaw and Faber told me that isn’t something they want to do, but they might have no choice if the UFC comes knocking with a high-dollar allure of a title fight.

Will Barao put an end to that prospect before it even starts, or is Dillashaw fighting at a level above the rest of his competition?

Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie for USA TODAY Sports